Vet-recommended wet food transition for Ragamuffin

Your vet has given you really solid advice — moving a 7-year-old Ragamuffin to 50% wet food is one of the most effective things you can do for urinary tract health. Cats evolved in arid environments and have a naturally low thirst drive, which means most cats on dry food are chronically underhydrated. That low-grade dehydration puts constant strain on the kidneys and urinary tract, and kidney disease is the leading cause of death in older cats. Wet food and water fountains are the two best tools we have to fix that. To point you toward the right wet food, can you tell me: what dry food is your Ragamuffin currently on, and has your vet mentioned anything specific — like crystals, a previous UTI, or early kidney changes?

That's a good catch by your vet — struvite crystals are very manageable at this stage, and increasing hydration is exactly the right move. Since he's already on Royal Canin dry, there's actually a strong case for staying in the same brand family. Has he been a fussy eater historically, or does he generally accept new foods without much drama?

Completely fair — and in this case the product I'd recommend has real clinical backing behind the label. Go with Royal Canin Urinary Care wet pouches in gravy. They're formulated specifically to dilute urine concentration, reduce the ionic strength that allows struvite crystals to form, and support a healthy urinary pH — not just vague 'support' language, but measurable mechanisms. Since he's already familiar with Royal Canin's flavour profile, the transition should be smooth. Start by replacing one of his two daily meals with a pouch, keep the other meal as his usual dry for now, and you'll hit that 50% wet target straight away. One thing worth doing in parallel: if you haven't already, a water fountain can push his daily intake up further — the moving water triggers their drinking instinct in a way a still bowl doesn't.

Keep them separate — serve the wet food in its own bowl at mealtimes and leave the dry as a measured portion at a different time. Mixing them together can make the dry food go soggy and unappetising, and it also makes it harder to track how much of each he's actually eating. For a cat with a crystal history it's worth knowing exactly what he's consuming. One wet meal, one dry meal, fresh water fountain running all day — that's a solid routine for his situation.

You're in a great position — catching this at the crystal stage before any obstruction or kidney involvement means a straightforward dietary change is likely all he needs. Royal Canin Urinary Care wet pouches are available in multipacks on Amazon UK which works out much better value than buying in small quantities. For the fountain, the Catit Flower Fountain is the most reliable entry-level option and cats tend to take to it quickly. Good luck with the transition — your Ragamuffin sounds like he's in good hands.